Russian Jews hold assembly in Jerusalem

Some 3,000 delegates from 35 countries where Russian-speaking Jews live are in Jerusalem to elect representatives and discuss development programs.

The General Assembly of the World Congress of Russian Jewry opened Wednesday in Jerusalem.

The delegates represent the 3 million Russian-speaking Jews, which is nearly a quarter of the world’s total Jewish population. Israel hosts the largest Russian-speaking community in the world, with more than 1 million people, the WCRJ said.

On the assembly’s agenda are electing governing bodies, preparing short-, medium- and long-term development programs and identifying key tasks and strategies.

Russian Federation Council member Boris Shpigel was elected the group’s president last November.